Translators’ Allocation of Cognitive Resources in Two Translation Directions: A Study Using Eye Tracking and Key Logging

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Abstract
This study examines how novice translators allocate cognitive resources during English-Chinese and Chinese-English translation, focusing on the influence of translation direction and the discrepancies between empirical data and self-reflections. Using a combination of eye-tracking and keystroke logging, four key indicators—Total Attentional Duration, Attention Unit Count, Attention Unit Duration, and pupil dilation—were employed to quantify cognitive effort. Cue-based Retrospective Think-Aloud Protocols were used to capture participants’ reflective insights. The findings reveal that cognitive effort varies significantly between attention types in both translation directions. Specifically, Target Text processing consistently demands more cognitive resources than Source Text processing and parallel processing, though variations between the two translation directions are evident. Furthermore, a notable divergence emerges between participants’ reflective accounts and the quantitative data, with translation directionality significantly influencing this discrepancy. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of cognitive effort in translation and highlight the complex interplay between empirical measures and self-reported experiences.

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